Suspects trying to forcibly enter Turkish Parliament detained

Suspects trying to forcibly enter Turkish Parliament detained

ANKARA

Two suspects allegedly linked to an organization listed as terrorists by Ankara were detained at the entrance hall of the Turkish Parliament on May 14 after attacking a staff member and security personnel, said a statement from parliament on May 15.

A woman and a man who claimed to have an appointment with a lawmaker were denied entry after a security check revealed that a warrant had been issued for the woman for an offense of libel, the statement said.

When they tried to take hostage a staff member, they were detained by the police and taken under custody, according to the statement.

“A woman and a man tried to enter parliament after waiting for about one-and-a-half hour together, but it was detected that the woman was prohibited of entry to parliament,” Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop told reporters on May 15.

“There is a well-functioning security system of our parliament. I congratulate the security personnel. An investigation by prosecutors has been launched,” he added.

“The incident is not linked with the lawmaker mentioned by the suspects,” Şentop also said, referring to main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Mahmut Tanal.

“On Tuesdays, some 30,000 people enter parliament … Requests are made to lawmakers from [people in] various provinces. You know some of them but not all of them,” he said, advising all lawmakers and staff members to be more cautious.

The interrogation of the suspects at the Ankara police department will last four days, a statement by the chief prosecutor’s office in Ankara said on May 15.

Sharp objects they used in the attack and a fake bomb set-up were found on them, local media reported.

The suspects “directly targeted the Turkish people’s will,” Presidential Communications Director FahrettinAltun said on May 15, adding that, according to security checks they had ties with the far-left DHKP/C group, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.